SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE YOUNG, FOR A CHANGE – AT 9:02 A.M. ET:  The stereotype is that young people are radical, filled with contempt for their elders, and are ready to start a revolution in the name of Che, or whatever hero catches their fancy on Thursday.

But some anecdotal evidence is surfacing that suggests that conservatism is making a comeback among the young.  From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Civic involvement among politically aware young people is growing, based on attendance at the Feb. 18-20 Conservative Political Action Conference in the nation's capital.

Elementary, high school and college students who pre-registered for the conference accounted for 60 percent of the crowd, up 10 percent from 2009, said the event's director, Lisa De Pasquale. They wore business attire, but many could be seen connecting to social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook while mingling.

A recent Pew Research Center report said 40 percent of voters ages 18 to 28 lean Republican, up from 30 percent last year. Fifty-four percent of those voters said they lean Democratic, down from 62 percent last year.

That's very good, and probably based on disappointment that Obama didn't cure the world at one sitting.

Most people associate political activity and energy among young people with liberal candidates and causes, said Todd Gitlin, a Columbia University professor of sociology.

And a committed leftist.

Gitlin said it's hard to gauge from the Pew survey what is intensity and what is a trend toward conservatism. But he acknowledges the Obama administration isn't doing a good job of keeping young people engaged.

They're not doing a good job at keeping anyone engaged.

In the 2008 presidential election, voters ages 18 to 29 backed President Obama over Arizona Sen. John McCain by a 2-1 ratio. But that demographic did not show up to vote in the 2009 gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. ABC News exit polling showed people younger than 30 accounted for 9 percent of the voters in New Jersey, down from 17 percent in November 2008, and 10 percent in Virginia, down from 21 percent in 2008.

The conservative values that attract young people appear to include limited government, with less emphasis on social issues, and a strong military.  That's why it's critical to keep the conservative movement clear of the crackpot fringe, which can only repel the young.

One young conservative activist said it best:

"It is not against Obama; it is for something better."

And that's the point.  Conservatives must stand for something.  It's not enough to be against the Obama health plan.  It's time for a new contract with America.  Let's spell it out.

March 2, 2010